Derivatives

chemosynthetic

However, mussels from different sites sometimes responded differently to the same environment, suggesting stock-related effects also play a role in the spatial variation observed in the physiology of chemosynthetic fauna.

Thus, the base of the deep-sea ecosystem's food chain may comprise both chemosynthetic and, probably in small proportion, photosynthetic bacteria.

Scientists have identified over 300 species of life, including fish, tubeworms, clams, and chemosynthetic bacteria living around these vents.